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Humminbird HELIX 5 DI Fish Finder Review

The Helix series from Humminbird are all solid choices. The Helix 5 DI GPS is in the middle of size for the series and makes a great addition to almost any fisherman’s tool box. The unit comes loaded with extra features in addition to its solid sonar capabilities.

Display

The Helix 5 comes with a five inch, 256 color display. The resolution comes in at 800×480, which is rather high for the limited screen size and leaves you with an accurate and easy to read display of your sonar findings. It also has an LED backlight so you’ll be able to read it at any time of the day. The only “drawback” is that the screen is only five inches, so it’s not the biggest one on the market.

Finder System

The sonar system which comes with the Helix 5 DI GPS is surprisingly powerful for such a small unit. It comes in at 4000W peak-to-peak which will allow it to reach down and get you information from up to 1500 feet below you.

It also has both standard and Side Imaging types of readings, with the Side Imaging giving you an impressive 180° of vision. The transducer that comes standard with this unit uses a dual frequency of 83/200 kHz, making for an accurate field of view within your standard cone. The side imaging on the other hand uses 455 kHz over a wider area, although it doesn’t read down to the impressive depth of the standard sonar.

The Side Imaging feature is extremely impressive in waters where it will reach the bottom. It will give you an amazingly accurate, almost photographic view of the waters beneath you.

Finder Rating: 8/10

Additional Functions

Like any high-end fish finder, the Helix 5 DI GPS comes equipped with a fantastic GPS system. It comes built in with Unimap software, and can store up waypoints so you’ll always be able to find exactly what you’re looking for. It also features a micro-SD slot so you’ll be able to save your waypoints to switch between finders, or even modify them on a different device.

In addition, it has all the standard features which are a must-have on nearly any finder, including giving readings for temperature and your boat’s current speed.

Ease of Use

This unit has an easy-to-use menu system which is sure to please both newbies and professionals. The interface is simple and quickly mastered, although the advanced options might take a little bit of time to dig into.

Ease of Use Rating: 8/10

Overall Rating

The Helix 5 DI GPS makes for a great addition to any vessel, particularly those where space might be a bit limited. Since it reads down to 1500 feet it’s absolutely perfect for lake fishing, and those who take it in the ocean will find it serves just fine provided they stay somewhat near the shore. Add in the GPS system and the unique Humminbird Side Imaging technology and you have a solid choice, and a worthy addition to Humminbird’s line of products.

Overall Rating: 8/10

Steven

I am Steven, an experienced fisherman, and outdoor enthusiast. My life-long passion for fishing began when my father taught me how to fish at the age of ten. I started luremefish.com to share my extensive knowledge of all things fishing.

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